Ayup! Shopping around for leaflet distribution prices? Wondering how much you should pay? Questioning why some companies are so cheap in comparison to others being so expensive? You’ve landed in the right place. On with the answers!
If you’re new to door drop campaigns, be aware that it’s an industry rife with unreliability and questionable business practices. There’s a very old business model that most companies follow. It didn’t work ten years ago, and it doesn’t work now.
Here’s everything you need to know. From finding a distribution partner that matches your budget to avoiding scams.
What distribution plan is being offered?
First up, one of the most significant differences in prices will be due to the plans being offered. There are three options in total. Some distribution companies will only offer one or two plans, while others may provide all three.
- Shared – Your flyer delivered with 3 to 5 other leaflets and/or menus.
- Solus+1 – Your flyer delivered with one other, non-competing business.
- Solus – Your flyer delivered entirely on its own for maximum visibility.
Excluding the Royal Mail, the above list descends from the cheapest at the top to the most expensive at the bottom. Shared plans bring in the lowest response rate, while solus gives your flyer or leaflet the best possible chance of success.
How much does leaflet distribution cost in the UK?
- Shared drops can be found for as little as £30 per thousand, going up to £60.
- Solus+1 plans tend to start at £75 and go up to £125.
- Solus drops usually range from £80 to £165.
But it also depends on…
- The area you want to cover.
- The weight of your flyer or leaflet.
- How urgently you need your materials delivering.
Leaflet Lion pricing
- Solus+1 – Flexible Areas – from £100 per thousand.
- Solus+1 – Specified Areas – from £125 per thousand.
- Solus – Specified Areas -from £165 per thousand.
How cheap is too cheap?
When it seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Delivering a thousand leaflets normally takes anywhere between five and eight hours. Is the company charging enough to pay their staff properly and still make a profit?
As mentioned further up, lots of distribution businesses work with a completely outdated business model. They pay their staff around £40 per thousand, which is completely unacceptable. Would you trust your campaign with a team that doesn’t even earn half of the national minimum wage?
Scams and unresponsive businesses
Lastly, a quick note on scams. The most common complaint I hear from clients is being let down by a distribution company. They’ll gladly take your money and promise GPS tracked delivery, except the tracking never arrives. Nor do the responses. I think we all know where those leaflets ended up.
Numerous businesses are also completely unresponsive. Countless clients have mentioned that we were the only ones to answer the phone or reply to their email. Not 100% sure what’s going on there. At a guess, I’d say someone set up a load of websites and got them ranking on Google in the hope of selling them.
How much should I pay for leaflet distribution?
As much as your marketing budget allows, would be my personal recommendation. Cheap leaflet distribution may sometimes be legit with a shared plan. More often than not, though, it would be cause for concern. Underpaid staff, corners being cut, and zero interest in your response rates. No, thank you.